It looks as if the Reedley College Tiger football team likes playing at Titan Stadium at Orange Cove High School.
Reedley scored three touchdowns in the opening nine minutes Saturday on the way to a 35-14 non-conference football victory over Chabot College.
Josh Magana ran for the game's first score from seven yards out. Then, the Tiger defense went to work. DeMarcus Thompson sacked Chabot quarterback Kekoa Turangan and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Amarian Hunter at the Chabot 3. On the next play, Magana found Dallas Parker for the touchdown. Only a little over four minutes had been played.
The Tiger defense got the ball back at the Gladiator 23. Five plays later, Tamicus Napier found the end zone from a yard out.
Reedley made it 28-0 as Magana connected with Antwan Ficklen on a 68-yard scoring pass on the second play of a drive with five minutes and 42 seconds left in the first half.
With just over two minutes left in the half, Chabot finished a 10-play, 73-yard drive with a 17-yard scoring pass from Kekoa Turangan to Damani Burrell.
The defenses took control in the second half as each team scored a touchdown in the final five minutes. The Tiger score came with 2:03 remaining, as Magana found Parker for a 22-yard score.
The sophomore from Dinuba finished with 228 yards passing, completing 16 of 23 with three touchdowns and one interception. Andrew Dowie, Parker and Ficklen each finished with five catches while T'KY Posey ground out 71 yards on 12 carries.
Shamar Hawkins had nine unassisted tackles to lead the defense while Thompson finished with two forced fumbles and two sacks on the afternoon.
"The offense came out hot," said Tiger head coach Rob Hartenfels, "and we threw the ball extremely well. I was really proud of the defense. We put a lot into their hands. That was the number two passing offense in the state." Chabot finished Saturday afternoon with 248 yards on 46 attempts. "They did a heck of a job getting pressure."
The coach said he was also pleased with special teams. "We had a rough week in the opener against Shasta but they came through.
This Saturday, the Tigers return to their second home in Orange Cove to host the Sierra College Wolverines. Sierra bounced back from a season-opening 45-28 loss to College of San Mateo to defeat Fresno City College (0-2) 31-28. Kickoff is set for 1 pm.
By: Will Goldbeck
